Self-service refrigerated showcase



May 20, 1952 K. A. WEBER 2,597,417

SELF-SERVICE REFRIGERATED SHOWCASE Filed July 1o, 195o 2 sHEETs--SHEET 1 2 /zz o ATTORNEYS May 20, 1952 K. A. WEBER 2,597,417

SELF-SERVICE REFRIGERATED SHOWCASE Filed July l0, 1950 2 SI-IEETSA-SHEET 2 FJQ. E

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Patented May 20, 1952 SELF-SERVICE REFRIGERATED SHOWCASE Karl Albert Weber, Brentwood Heights, Calif., assignor to Weber Showcase & Fixture Co., Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July 10,1950, serial No. 172,952.

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved self-service refrigerated showcase. Y

It is an object of this invention to provide a showcase wherein frozen foods, meats 'and other produce can be maintained on display, readily accessible to the customers with a minimum of spoilage and deterioration of the foods so dis played.

In refrigerated showcases of the type utilizing a blower or fan to insure positive air circulation and refrigeration coils or similar refrigerating means to refrigerate the circulated air, it is customary to out off the fan or blower during defrosting of the coils to prevent circulation of warm, moist air throughout the case.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby the refrigeration coils or other refrgerating means are eliminated from the path of circulation of air during this defrosting period and thus insure continuous circulation of cold air throughout the case during the defrosting period.

In general, the invention comprises a display case provided with blower means, refrigerating means so positioned that air circulated by the blower means passes around the refrigerating means, a duct leading from the refrigerating means to the display bin, in the case of a single deck showcase or to the display bins in the case of a multiple deck display case, and return ducts from the display bins to the blower means. Diverting means are provided in thepassage from the blower means to the refrigerating means and in the duct leading from the refrigerating means,

which are in the closed position during defrosting of the refrigerating means to divert air from the blower directly into the display bin or bins by-passing the refrigerating means, said diverting means returning to the open or normal position upon the close of the defrosting period.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specication.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple type self-service refrigerated showcase embodying this invention.

Figurev 2 is a sectional'view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded sectional view of the air-diverting means.

A housing I is formed by the front wall I2, a

base I4, rear wall i6 and side walls I8 and 2li.`

These walls are preferably insulated to'facilitate maintaining a low temperature within the showcase. In this particular embodiment of this invention the showcase illustrated and-hereinafter described is a multiple'deck showcase wherein the rear wall I6 projects above the front wall I2 and is provided with a top or canopy 22 which terminates a substantial horizontal distance from the frontr wall I2. A blower 24 is suitably mounted in the housing, herein illustrated as retained by the bracket 26 and the flange 28 on the rear wall 30 of the lower display bin 32 adjacent approximately the mid-point of the rear wall I6. However, it is obvious that the positioning of the blower can be altered substantially without departing from the scope of this invention.

An air duct 34 is formed by the rear-wall I6 of the housing and the baille 36. This baie may take the form of anelongated plate parallel to the rear wall I6 and be bent at its lower extremity 3B to join with the bracket 26 and divert the air from the blower into the duct 34. At the upper portion of the housing below the canopy 22 suitable refrigerating means 40, herein illustrated as a well-known refrigerating coil, may be mounted. The air duct 34 leads air from the blower 24 through the refrigerating coil, thereby lowering the temperature of the air to a predetermined level.

In the upper portion of the housing and below the refrigerating means 40 is the upper display bin 42, which may be mounted inv any suitable manner in the housing. An air passage 44 leads from the refrigerating means to the upper display bin, whereby a portion of the refrigerated air passes through air passage 44 and into said upper display bin. The air passage 44 is for-med by the baille member 46 which projects downwardly and rearwardly from the canopy 22, and a V-shaped bale 48 which at its one extremity is substantially parallel to the baiiie member 46 and at its opposite extremity is substantially parallel to the rear wall I6. The' lower extremity of the :baffle member 46 is bent as at 50 to divert the air in passage 44 rearwardly and is further bent upwardly as at 52 to provide an air channel between this upturned portion of the baille member 46 and the rear wall 54 of the upper display bin 42. An L-shaped closure member 56 is pivotally mounted within the case, as hereinafter will be described, so that in the open position its upper portion 58 is substantially par- -allel 'i to the base I4 and projects above the upturned'portion 52 of the baille member 46, thereby dividing the air passage 44 into two separate channels, the innermost of said channels diverting a portion of the air from the refrigerating .means 46 into the upper display 'bin 42. The remaining .portion of refrigerated air passes betweenthe -upperportion 58 of the L-shaped closure member 56 andthe baffle illyand down an may accumulate in the base of the case.

ing of the contents 68 of the Vupper display bin.V

The air return duct 66 returns the refrigerated air from the upper display bin 4to the-blower 24 through the air duct formed betweenthe base of the display bin 42 and the air deflecting-member l0, and through a continuation of -this Ifair duct 'I2 which comprises a funnel through which the air may return to the blower without coming into contact with the refrigerated air which is diverted through the air passage 60.

` The refrigerated air passing through the air passage 60 passes around the funnel-like continuation '|2 of the air .duct 66 and between the lower portion 14 of the air Ydeflecting member 10, which is suitably formed to provide an air passage .between the flange 28 of the rear wall 30 of the lower display bin 32 and said'lower'portion 14 `of deflecting member 10. This air dellecting member vmay be mounted in the housing in any suitable mannerl herein shown as supported by the longitudinal brace V'I6 at its Vfrontmost extremity and by the bolt l'I8 at its rearmost extremity, said bolt 'I8 also acting to space the air deilecting member a suitable distance from the flange 28 to form the above-mentioned air passage.

The air then ilows downwardly into the lower display bin 32 circulating about the contents 60 of said lower display bin and returns through the air return passage 62 which is formed between the front wall ,84 of the display Ibin `32 and the front wall .I2 of the housing. The lower display bin'32 is spaced a suicient distance from the lbase I4 of the showcase to provide an air channel 86 which constitutes a continuation of the air return passage 82. A similar air passage 88 returning the air Vfrom the passage channel 86 to the blower 24 is provided by spacing the rear wall 30 of the display bin A32 a sufficient distance from the rear Wall |6 of the showcase. A front baille 90 may be constructedin the same manner as the lfront batile |52 to accomplish the same results, that is, reduce the spillage of refrigerated air over the front of the display case and to permit customers to view the contents of the lower display bin 32.

It is desirable to provide a mirror 92 suitably mounted by the brackets 94 and 96 below the air deecting member l0 toreflect the contents 80 of the lower display bin, and thereby facilitate the viewing o-f said contents by prospective customers, in the front of the showcase. Similarly, a mirror-93 may be mounted on the'bale member 46 for the same purpose.

The baille member46 may be pivotally mounted to the canopy 22 as by a hinge |00 to permit -the baille member to be pivoted outwardly, thus permitting access tothe refrigerating-means. A uorescent light |02 may be suitably mounted in the longitudinal support member T6 to facilitate viewing of the contents of the lower display bin. Also, a drain |04 may be provided in the air channel 66 to drain olf excess moisture which It is also desirable to provide suitable drains (not shown) to the V-Shapedbaille 48 `and the baffle Vto the base I4 of the showcase.

member 46 to drain off moisture which may accumulate in these places.

It is, of course, apparent in the type of showcase heretofore described that considerable ice Will form on the refrigerating means 40, and that it lis necessary to periodically defrost the refrigerating means in order to maintain an efcient heat transfer. During the time in which 4the refrigerating means are being defrosted, it is necessary to prevent circulation of air over the refrigerating coils to prevent heated and Ymoist air from being circulated throughout the showcase. To accomplish this result, the L- shaped closure member 56 and the closure mem- -into a position closing off flow through the air duct 34, as best seen in Figure 3. When the closure member prevents flow through the upper Yportion of the air duct 34, it uncovers the opening I I0 in the balllle 36, thereby diverting the air downwardly into the air passage 60. It is thus apparent Athat by sealing off the upper portion of the air duct 34, the blower 24 may be kept in Vcontinual operation, circulating the refrigerated air throughout the case during the defrosting cycle.

The L-shaped closure member 56 is also mounted to the carrier |08 in such a relationship to the closure member |06 that when said `closure member |00 cuts off flow through the upper portion of the air duct 34 the L-shaped closure member -56 cuts off the air passage 44 from communication with the air passage 60. The lower portion |40 of the member 56 bears against the upper extremity ||2 of -the plate 36, while the opposite extremity is provided with Vinwardlyturned flange ||4 which is adapted to bear against .the `baille member 46 at its upturned extremity.

It is preferred to provide a stop surface I|6 either integral with the baille member 46 or at- -tached thereto against which the flange |4 may bear to insure an effective seal against the flow of air at this point. Attached to the upper portionrof the carrier |08 adjacent the upper portion A58 of the L-shaped closure member 56 is va pivot member ||8, which is pivotally mounted to the stationary member |20 by a pin |24. The

member |20 may be mounted on the V-shaped baille 48 or otherwise secured in the housing. A-connecting rod |22 is rigidly attached to `the pivot member ||8 on the side of the pin |24 adjacent the rear wall I6. The connecting rod is suitably attached to the lever arm |26 which in turn is attached to a rocker |28, as seen in Figure 3. The rocker |28 is moved by the solenoid |30. Thus, when the defrosting cycle is commenced, the solenoid is energized and draws the plunger |32 towards the rear wall |6 of the housing. This motion through the rocker 28 drives the lever arm |26 upwardly with respect This upward motion of the lever arm |25 and the connecting rod I 22 pivots the member I|8 about the pin |24, -swinging the closure member 56 into the Aclosed positionas seen in Figure 3 andas hereinbefore described, and at the same time moves .the closure member |08 into the position seen in-,Figure 3, closing off the `flow ofair into the upper portion of air duct 34 as hereinbefore de- It is desirable to provide an enlarged area |34 in the air duct 34 opposite the opening ||0 so that a surface |36 can be provided against which the closure member |06 will bear when in the closed position to provide an effective seal. The closure member |06 may also be provided with a flange |38 suitably formed to provide a seal against the flow of air when the 4flange bears against the upper portion ||2 of the plate 36. When the defrosting period is over, the solenoid |30 is vautomatically energized to force the plunger |32 horizontally awayfrom the rear wall I6, and through rocker |28 draws the lever arm |26 vertically downward with respect to the base I4. This causes the plate member ||8 to pivot about pin |24, carrying with it the carrier |08. When the carrier |08 is pivoted to the open position, as seen in Figure 2, the closure member |06 bears against the opening deecting the flow of air upwardly through duct 34, and the closure member 56 is pivoted so that the lower portion |40- bears against the rear wall of the upper display bin l42, thereby permitting flow of air through the 'passingbetween the L-shaped closure Vmember 56 and the lower extremity of the vbaille member '|46 passing through the orifice formed between the rear wall of the upper display bin 42 and the rearmost extremity of the baille member 46 into the upper display bin 42. The air then passes through the air return duct 64 and the funnel- `like continuation 12 of this duct to the blower.

vA portion of the refrigerated air passes between the U-shaped baffle 48 and the upper por- 'tion 58 of the L-shaped closure member 56 into the air passage 60. The air'then passes downwardly over the funnel-like continuation 'l2 of air return duct 66 between the air deflected member 'l0 and the flange 28. The air then passes between the orifice formed by the rear ywall 30 of the lower display bin and the rearmost extremity of the air deiiecting member 10.` The air passes over and about the produce in ,the lower display bin 32 and into the air return passage 82 passing under the lower display bin Vthrough thev air channel 86 and behind the lower Adisplay bin through the air passage 8B and returning to the blower to be circulated.

When it is desired to defrost the refrigerating means 40, this can be done either manually or automatically. At the time the defrosting of the refrigerating means 40 is commenced, the solenoid |30 is energized, drawing the plunger |32 rearwardly. This rearward motion of the plunger |32 drives the lever arm |26 upwardly through the rocker |28. This upward motion of the lever arm |26 and the rigidly attached connecting rod |22 -pivots the pivot member ||8 about the screw |24. The pivoting of the member H8 moves the carrier member |08 until the flange ||4 on the -'Lshaped closure member 56 engages the stop surface ||6 on the baffle member 46.

ow of air through the air passage 44 into the upper display bin 42 and through the air passage 60. At the same time the closure member |06 is pivoted by the carrier |08 so that the flange |38 bears against the upper portion ||2 of the baille 36 and the opposite extremity of the closure member |06 bears against the surface |36 in the rear Wall |6 thereby cutting off the iiow of air from the air duct 34 to the refrigerating means. During this period the air is circulated by the blower through the lower portion of the air duct 34, through the opening I0 in the baille 36 and downwardly into the air passage 60 and through the orifice formed between the rear wall of the upper display bin 42 and the rearmost extremity of the air baille 46 into the upper display bin. The air then passes through the upper and lower display bins and through the return ducts as hereinbefore described.

It is of course apparent that the air diverting means herein described is adaptable for use in a single deck showcase by elimination of thev air passage 60 and the associated ducts servicing the lower display bin.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that various changes in the size, shape and location of the component parts of this devicecan be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention or the appended claims.

l. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, at least one open display bin -disposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, an air duct from said blower to said refrigerating means, an air duct from said refrigerating means to said display bin, and meansin said air ducts for Toy-passing saidV refrigerating means during defrosting of said refrigerating means. f

2. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, at least one open display bin disposed insaid housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, an air duct from said blower to said refrigerating means, an air duct from said refrigerating means to said display bin, baille members pivotally mounted in said air ducts to simultaneously cut olf iiow of air -to and from said refrigerating means during defrosting of said refrigerating means'.

3. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, at least one open display bin disposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, an air duct from said blower to said refrigerating means, an air duct `from said refrigerating means to said display bin, a baille pivotally mounted in said rst mentioned air duct which in the open position permits air to Vflow to said refrigerating means and in the closed position diverts air into said last mentioned air duct, a baille pivotally mounted in said last mentioned air duct which in the open position permits air to flow from said refrigerating .means to said display bin and in the closed position diverts Aair from said first mentioned air duct into said display bins.

. .4. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, atleast one open display bindisposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, an air duct from said blower to said refrigerating means, an air Vduct from said refrigerating means to said display bin, a baille pivotally mounted in said first mentioned air duct which in the open position permits air to flow to said refrigerating means ed in said last mentioned air duct which in the open position permits air to flow from said refrigerating means to said display bin and in the closed position diverts air from said first mentioned air duct into said display bins, and means for simultaneously pivoting said bales to the open or closed position.

5. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, an open display case disposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, walls dening an air duct from said air circulating means to said refrigerating means provided with an opening in one of the Walls of said air duct, a pivotally mounted baie in said air duct covering said opening when air ows to said refrigerating means, said baffle diverting air through said opening when.

pivoted to prevent air ilowing to said refrigerating means, an air Vpassage from `said refrigerating means to said display bin, and means pivotally mounted in said air passage for directing air from said opening in said `air duct into' said display bin.

6. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, an open display `bin disposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, walls defining `an air duct from said air circulating means Vto said refrigerating means, an air passage from said refrigerating means to said display bin having a common wall with said air duct which wall is provided With an opening therein, a baiile pivotally l7. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, an open display bin disposed in said housing, air circulating means, refrigerating means, walls dening an air duct from said air circulating means to said refrigerating means, an air passage from said refrigerating means to said display-bin having a common wall with said air duct which wall is provided with an opening therein, a baille ,pivotally mounted in said air duct covering said opening when air ilows to said refrigerating means and diverting air through said opening when pivoted to prevent air flowingto said refrigerating means, and a baiile pivotally mounted in said air passage above said opening directing airv into lsaid display bin when air flows through said air duct to said refrigerating means and closing off said air passage when air is diverted through said opening.

8. A self-service refrigerated displaycase comprising: a housing, an open display Vbin disposed in said housing, air circulatingmeans, refrigerating means, Walls defining an air vductirom said air circulating means to said refrigerating means,

an air passage from said refrigerating means to said display bin having -a common -Wall with said air duct which wall -is provided with an opening therein, a baiile pivotally mounted in said air duct covering said opening when air `ilows to said'refrigerating means .and diverting air throushrsaid opening lwhen pivoted to epre- `Vvent air flowing to said vrefrrigeratirr,ig means. -a

baille pivotally mounted in said air passage above s aid opening directing air into said display bin when air Viiows through said air duct to Said refrigerating means and closingoff said air passage When air is diverted through said opening,

and means for pivoting -said bailles simultaneously to by-passvsaid refrigerating means.

9. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, a pair of open display bins `disposed one -above the other in said housing,

air circulating means, refrigerating means, walls defining an air duct from said air circulating means to said refrigerating means provided vwith an opening in one of the walls of .said air duct, a pivotally mounted baille in said air duct covering said opening when in the open position and diverting air through said opening when in the closed position, an air passage from said refrigerating means, means for dividing said air passage into two air channels, one of said air channels diverting air to each of lsaid display bins, means pivotally mounted in said air passage for `directing air from said opening in said air duct into saidair channels. 10. A self-service refrigerated display case'comprising: a housing, a pair of open display bins disposed one above the other in said housing, air circulating means, -refrigerating means, Walls defining an air duct lfrom said air circulating means to said refrigerating means provided with an opening in one of thewalls-of saidair duct, a pivotally mounted baie in said air duct covering said opening .when in the open vposition .and diverting air through said opening when in .the

closedposition anair passage from said `refrigerating means directingair to said ldisplay bins, a baffle pivotally mounted in .said air .passage through said opening into said display bins.

11. A self-service refrigerated display case comprising: a housing, a pair of open display bins ydisposed one above the other in said housing,

air circulating means, refrigerating means, walls dening an air duct from said air circulating means to said refrigerating means provided with .an opening in one of the fwalls of said air duct,

a pivotally mounted baille in said air duct cover- .ing said opening when in the open position and diverting air vthrough said opening when inthe closed position, an air passage from said refrigerating means directing lair to said displaybins, a baille pivotally -mounted in said air passage Vvvvhichin the open position permits air Atoilow from therefrigerating means to the display bins and in the closed position diverts air ilowing through said opening into said display bins, and means for simultaneously pivoting saidbafiles to the open or closed positions.

KARL-ALBERT WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file vof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENIS Number Name Date 2,247,274 Booth June 24, 1941 2,462,279 Passman iFeb.'V 22, y1949 2,466,876 Brouse Apr. 12, 1949 42,467,427 vGreen Apr. 1'9, 1949 

